Spade-step.



E. 0. JEWETT.

SPADE STEP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1911.

1 ,O 1 8,424, Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

WITNESSES U%w Q9 J W15??? Attorney EUGENE C. JEWET'I, OF EAGLE- GROVE,IOWA.

SPADE-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1912.

Application filed July 21, 1911. Serial No. 639,803.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE C. Jnwn'r'r, a citizen of the United States,resldlng at Eagle Grove, in the county of Wright and same for right orleft hand use.

A further object is to so construct the step that it can be formed bystamping the same from a sheet of metal, and, a further object is toprovide means for attaching the same to thehead of the spade blade.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and pointedout in the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application,Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the step applied to use. Fig. 2is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the spade with the stepapplied. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the step. Fig. 4 is a bottom planview thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional view as seen on line 5-5 Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the bladeof the spade which is preferably constructed of a number of bars spacedapart, having a head 2 at its upper end and a cutting edge 3 at itslower end, a handle 4: being secured to the blade by introducing a shank(not shown), extending from the head portion of the blade into thehandle. As it is difficult to provide sufficient surface to receivepressure thereon to force the spade into the ground without increasingthe size and width of the spade head I provide my improved form of step5, which is preferably channel shaped in cross section to provide a horizontal pressure surface 6 and depending side flanges 7 and 8, the sideflange 8 and pressure surface 6 being cut away at their longitudinalcenter to provide a slot 9 to receive the handle 4 of the spade. Asection 10 is thus left integral with both ends of the flange 7 to holdthe two ends of the step together, and, as the blade of the spade ispreferably curved the step can be readily curved to fit the blade.

Extending downwardly from the flange 8 at each side of the slot 9 aretongues 11 which are adapted to be bent under the head section 2 of thespade to secure the step in position thereon, said tongues beingpositioned below the head after the step has been introduced around thehandle and seated on the head of the blade.

As the step projects on each side of the handle and a distance beyondthe edges of the head of the blade an increased surface is provided toreceive the pressure of the foot to drive the spade into the earthssurface and the spade can be used either as a right or left handimplement without the necessity of changing the step from one side ofthe blade to the other, as is necessary when using other forms of steps.

As this step can be stamped from a section of sheet metal it canbe verycheaply produced and at the same time rendered extremely strong anddurable by providing the depending flanges which fully reinforce thetread portion of the step. It will likewise be seen that should thespade become broken or worn out the step can be readily removedtherefrom and engaged with another spade.

WVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a blade having a. head at one end and a handleattached to the head, of a step, said step comprising a horizontalportion and dependingflanges at each edge thereof, said horizontalportion and one of the flanges having a slot to receive the handle andtongues carried by one of the flanges adapted to be bent under the headto hold the step in position on the spade.

2. The combination with a spade having a head at one end and a handleattached to the head, of a step, said step comprising a horizontalportion and depending flanges name to this specification in the presenceof at each edge thereof, said horizontal portwo subscribing Witnesses.tion having an opening therein to receive the handle and tongues adaptedto be bent EUGENE JEW 5 under the head to hold the step in positionVitnesses:

on the spade. L. J. CLARKE,

In testimony whereof I have signed my J. F. FEELY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. c.

